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under construction: CFL Teams Review/Preview Thread


bluto

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Alrighty, time to get to work... We have the best of the CFL online fan community's Bomber posters here and a few from other teams thrown into the mix. It's time for us to create a thread to use what we have here.

What i have in mind:

myself and 7 other posters will create Review/Preview posts, one for each team in the league. within each post we will cover:

Starters on O:
Starters on D:
Key STers:
New Additions:
Subtractions:
Draft:
Players on the bubble:
Last season summary:
2013 outlook and prediction:

but it doesn't end there... when each are up, the forum will then post their own additions and amendments to each and by popular consensus the poster will edit their own post. please make use of team stats wherever possible. a picture or two would be nice too... maybe a star player or something.
then a mod will clean the thread leaving only the 8 team previews as created by MorningBigBlue's posters.

now to assign/volunteer for the 8 previews... (don't all raise your hand at once :lol: )

Montreal: Doctor Handsome
Toronto: bluto
Hamilton: Zontar
Winnipeg: JPan85

Saskatchewan: Mark H
Edmonton: Mike
Calgary: iso_55
BC: DanoT

Timeframe: i'd like the previews reviews to be done by Monday night please... then the edits and revisions to be done prior to Tuesday June 11th

who wants in?

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Starters on O: QB Mike Reilly, RB Hugh Charles, SB Fred Stamps, WR Shamawd Chambers, OL Simeon Rottier

Starters on D: LB JC Sherritt, DE Odell Willis, DT Ted Laurent, CB Joe Burnett, S Donovan Alexander, DE Marcus Howard

Key STers: Grant Shaw, Mike Miller, Corbin Sharun, Burke Dales

New Additions: DE Odell Willis, QB Mike Reilly, OL Carson Rockhill, DB Marcell Young, QB Jacory Harris, DT Eddie Steele, GM Ed Hervey

Subtractions: CB Rod Williams, OL Greg Wojt, DB Weldon Brown, QB Steven Jyles, DT Jermaine Reid, K Brody McKnight, GM Eric Tillman

Draft: DL Stefan Charles (Titans), LB Kyle Norris, OL Chris Mercer, LS Jorgen Hus (Rams), OL Taylor Servais, DL Elie Ngoyi, FB Smith Wright

Players on the bubble: DL Don Oramasionwu, SB Adarius Bowman, OL Kyle Koch, QB Kerry Joseph

Last season summary:

2013 outlook and prediction:

Will make fancy and finish off later.

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Will be happy to do HAM preview. Nice looking site. Decent chaps too.

thanks Zontar. you're in! :mrgreen:

i always like reading these preview things n the paper and online... and i figured that an entire site of knowledgeable CFL fans could do one at least as well as the media... and it's kinda fun too. we'll get to a consensus on the previews and then move on to seeing if we can get a consensus on the standings... then the records...

none of us are as smart as all of us, so this ought to be good.

still need a volunteer for BC

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Saskatchewan: (i'd like 17 to do this one if he would, please)

Sorry Bluto but I'm really not a doer, I'm more of a sit back and tell people they're doing it wrong kind of person.

that's kinda why i wanted you to do one. bummer.

okay, 2 open slots: BC and Sask

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MONTREAL ALOUETTES 2013 SEASON PREVIEW

Starters on Offence

QB: Anthony Calvillo

OL: Jeff Perrett, Scott Flory, Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, Andrew Woodruff, Josh Bourke. Lots of Canadian depth here too. Ridiculous collection of non-import OL.

RB: Battle between Jerome Messam, Chris Jennings, Brandon Whitaker and a couple new faces, including 11 year NFL vet and Super Bowl champion Dominic Rhodes. I could see them keeping an import while starting Messam, similar to what BC and Calgary do with their running back situations.

FB: Patrick Lavoie (Currently out with back injury)

WR: Jamel Richardson, Brandon London and SJ Green are locks. The other 2 are open for competition between Arland Bruce, Bo Bowling, and a handful of rookies. Canadian Eric Deslauriers will be on the roster but whether they have a non-import receiver full-time is still up in the air.

Starters on Defence

The defence wasn't great last year so we might see some significant changes. That makes it hard to predict who the starters will be, but we can make some educated guesses.

DE: John Bowman. The second DE spot will be open to competition.

DT: Alan-Michael Cash, and then Moton Hopkins and Scooter Berry will compete with some rookies for the other DT spot.

LB: Shea Emry, Chip Cox. As for WILL, they picked up Ejiro Kuale and there has been some talk that they are looking at moving Kyries Hebert into a linebacker spot rather than Safety, but that hasn't been confirmed. They also have a couple good prospects with playing experience like Bear Woods and Kenny Ingram.

DB: Billy Parker, Jerald Brown, Seth Williams (Out with ankle injury), possibly Kyries Hebert, Byron Parker, Geoff Tisdale.

Key Special Teams

Kyries Hebert and Daryl Townsend will likely lead the way on the cover teams, and Sean Whyte is entrenched as the punter and kicker. The returner spot will probably still be open for competition as it was never really seized and held onto by any of the candidates such as Trent Guy, who is no longer with the team.

New Additions: QB Quinton Porter, RB Jerome Messam, CB Byron Parker, DB Geoff Tisdale, LB Ejiro Kuale, SB Arland Bruce, RB Dominic Rhodes.

Subtractions: KR Trent Guy, RB Brandon Whitaker, WR Brian Bratton, DB Dwight Anderson.

Draft: #3 LB Mike Edem (signed), #5 RB Steven Lumbala (signed), #14 DT Hosam Shahin (NCAA), #23 DE Jesse Joseph (NCAA), #30 LB Nicolas Boulay (signed), #32 DL Michael Klassen (signed), #41 OL Jake Piotrowski, #47 OL Simon Legare (signed), #57 WR Damone Blackman (signed).

Players on the bubble: Anyone on the defence is fair game outside of John Bowman, Shea Emry, and Jerald Brown, in my opinion. Chip Cox is probably safe but he is 30 years old and you never know with a new coaching staff. Hebert is also not getting any younger. Scott Flory is getting up there and there are a lot of young Canadian OL behind him.

Last season summary: 11-7, 1st in East, Lost East Final to Toronto. Last season saw a continuation of Montreal's potent offence led by Anthony Calvillo and a trio of deadly receivers. There were some issues on special teams and their defence never seemed to live up to the standards expected of the players they had. As we all know by now, last season was Trestman's last as the head coach.

2013 outlook and prediction: It's hard to imagine the Alouettes really falling off after so many years at the top. But with Trestman moving on and Calvillo being 41 years old... I mean come on how much longer can he keep this up? Unfortunately for the rest of the league, I think it would take a big disaster to knock Montreal off the top. Their receivers and OL are just way too good and Calvillo is far too polished. If Messam regains his 2011 form, watch out. Of course, if Quinton Porter ends up starting for any significant period of time, all bets are off... all things considered I'm going to say 9-9 and second in the East.

EDIT: Changed to reflect release of Victor Anderson and signing of Brandon Whitaker

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that's a great start Doctor H, way to get into the spirit of this. 8-)

i'll be away at a golf tournament this weekend (tonight till Sunday nite), so i'm hoping that someone steps up and volunteers to do the BC write-up this evening before i head north of the big smoke.

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2013 Season Preview

Starters on Offence (based on incumbent starters)

QB: Buck Pierce

OL: Glen January, Chris Greaves, Justin Sorenson, Steve Morely. RT will be up for grabs.

RB: Chad Simpson

FB: Michel-Pierre Pontbriand

WR: Chris Matthews, Terence Edwards, Cory Watson, Kito Plobah and Clarence Denmark

Starters on Defence (based on incumbent starters)

DE: Alex Hall, second spot up for grabs

DT: Bryant Turner, second spot will be up grabs

LB: Henoc Mumba, both WILL and SAM spots up for grabs

Safety: Cauchy Mumba

DB: Alex Suber, Brandon Stewart, Jonathon Hefney, and Jovon Johnson

Key Special Teamers

The return games has two guys in Jovon Johnson and Demond Washington who can take back the ball to the house every time they touch the ball. In the cover game Henoc Muamba and his MLB partner Pierre-Luc Labbe lead the way. While the team of kicker Justin Palardy and long snapper Chris Cvetkovic have been one of the more accurate duos in the league.

New Additions: QBs: Max Hall and Chase Clement, C Mark Dewit and S Cauchy Muamba

Draft: #2 DL Andy Mulumba (Green Bay Packers) #11 DB Kris Robertson (out ACL injury) #20 TE/FB Carl Fitzgerald (signed) #29 WR Michael DiCroce (signed) #46 WR Stephen Alli (taking a year off from football with a nagging injury) #54 P Billy Pavlopoulos (signed)

Players on the Bubble: The biggest player on the bubble at the moment is Mike Renaud. With three punters being brought in to compete he will be in tough. Clarence Denmark seems to be the receiver that will be under the biggest threat to lose his starting job. With 9 rookie DB's being brought in to camp there could be changes in the defensive back field. Another area where changes might be made is on the right side of the line with Steve Morely under heavy pressure to win his old job.

Last season summary: 6-12, 3rd in the East, missed the playoffs. Coming off a Grey Cup appearance things were looking up for the Bombers. However with a season opening 4 game road stretch and myriad of injuries to key players such and positions the Bombers got off to a rough start, which cost head coach Paul LaPolice his job. Included in those injuries was Buck Pierce who miss a majority of the season with multiple injuries. Under new head coach Tim Burke thing did not immediately get better. Yet as the season went on a offence that really had struggled in the first part became much improved under OC Gary Crowton. Defensively the team took a step back from the previous year where they were the number one unit in the league. Although flashes of the previous season were seen there were too many broken coverage's and assignments leading to a huge number of long plays against the them.

2013 outlook and prediction: It will be interesting to see if the Blue can build on the late season emergence of their offence with Gary Crowton totally in charge of the offense dozen from start to finish. This will all depend on the O-lines ability to keep Buck on his feet. The lack of experience behind Buck means win may be hard to find if he goes down during the season. While a much improved run game led by a healthy Chad Simpson, which was seen during the latter part of the season, may help keep Buck healthy. On the other side of the ball a large influx of new players from the states was brought in to challenge some of the underperforming vets. It will be seen if any of these players can plug the holes at WILL/SAM/DE/DT and elevate the Bomber D back to the top of leader board. Predicting the Bomber record comes down to one fact Buck Pierces health, if healthy there is no reason this team cannot go 10-8 or 9-9 with a playoff berth. Without Buck it looks like it could be another 6-12 season with no playoffs.

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Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Offense: QB Burris.

OL: Simmons, Hennesy, Hage, O'Neil, Husband, Dile and the addition of RT Greg Wojt. HAM is very deep at NI OL with both youth and experience. Has some tough choices to make especially with vets like Hage.

Rec: Grant, Fantuz, Charbonneau-Campeau are locks. Like the OL they are deep and young here and have decisions to make. Williams' depature makes room for a rookie import - HAM has signed several in recent weeks. But how players like Stala, Giguerre and Jones fit in is a challenge.

RB: Walker. Rookies Gable and Lamar have also looked good at camp. Three other rookies being looked at presently.

Defense

DL: Boudreaux, Davis, Moore, Peach. Like the OL a lot of people are being looked at. Need an NI to step up for a tackle spot. Hazim or Gascon-Nadon. A newcomer could very well steal a DE job.Look for lots of rotation with NIs like Shomari Williams.

LBs : Lawrence, Johnson, Knowlton, Bowman. Question mark here is when and if Bowman becomes healthy and how he is plugged in and if Lawrence can handle a starter's work load.

DBs : Hinds (NI) , Webb, Bucknor (NI), Patrick, McCullough, Colclough should form the core but unit is a major state of flux with lots of talent being looked at.

Special Teams : Lamar, Gable, Giguerre and and recently acquired rec. Leong are in the mix in the post Williams era. Trick for imports is finding a roster spot. Lost some experience on coverage but a raft of young NI talent via the draft should negate.

New Additions : LB Lawrence, DB McCullough, LB/DL Williams, OL Wojt. QB Brohm.

Draft :Number one selection DL Linden Gaydosh (currently in other league). DL Urban (injured, expected later in season).Rec. Marquand.

Previous draftees signed : DB Stephen, DL Gascon-Nadon, DL Atkinson.

On the Bubble : New regime and a 6 win season doesn't add up to job security for some. Would not be shocked if vets like Peach, Knowlton are let go, Rec. Jones may have trouble fending off influx of new recs. Same goes for some OLs like Dile.

2012 Summary.

Cats proved beyond doubt the addage that defense wins. Despite often spectacular offense a highly porous and , frankly, unprofessionally prepared defense was the number one reason for last year's failure. Cats were elite or near elite it almost every other department. Its no mystery as to why there's so much change there this offseason.

2013 Outlook

Defense, defense, defense. Has to be better. New DC Steinauer should lend some credibility and respect back to that job. Addition of MCullough will go a long way to shoring up that unit. Despite underperforming there's talent on the D-line worth building around. Challenge for offense is Burris maintaining last year's high level. No Williams means the ball could be spread out even more and less focussed on one player - Cats still have lots of weapns here.

New coach Kent Austin has already putting his philosophical stamp on the team a mix of postivity and perfectionism in contrast to Cortez's grumpiness that the team never really could get past.

How playing in Guelph affects things is unpredictable but there is no reason to say the offense wont be effective again and even a modest improvement on defense means Cats are in the mix for a playoff spot as anyone. 10 wins.

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Saskatchewan Roughriders

Offense

Durant or bust

QB: 1. Darian Durant 2. Drew Willy

OL (Left to Right): Xavier Fulton; Brendan Labatte; Dominic Picard; Chris Best; Patrick Neufeld

RB: Corey Sheets FB: Neal Hughes

Receivers: Greg Carr; Robb Bagg; Weston Dressler; Chris Getzlaf; Geroy Simon; Taj Smith

Defense

Change for the better?

DL: Tearrius George (DT); John Chick (DE); Jermaine McElveen (DE); Ricky Foley (DE); Keith Shologan (DT)

DB: Craig Butler (S); Eddie Russ; Milt Collins; Dwight Anderson; Weldon Brown; Terrel Maze (CB and HB positions TBD)

LB: Tyron Brackenridge; Diamond Ferri; Renauld Williams (positions uncertain)

Special Teams

Push the kicker

Keys on the lunch bucket brigade: Aaron Hargreaves; Graeme Bell; Neal Hughes; Paul Woldu

Kickers / Punters: Brody McKnight; Ricky Schmitt; Chris Milo

LS: Cory Hucklack KR: ??

New Additions

Typical Taman

DL: John Chick; Antonio Coleman; Jermaine McElveen; Ricky Foley

DB: Dwight Anderson; Weldon Brown

LB: Renauld Williams

K: Brody McKnight

OL: Kyle Hill; Jose Valdez

R: Rod Harper; Kierrie Johnson; Geroy Simon

Subtractions

No great losses

Lost to FA: Odell Willis (DE)

Released: Tristan Jackson (DB); Jay Alford (DL); Joe Lobendahn (LB)

Draft

Heavy on Hogs

Corey Watman (OL); Matt Vork (OL); Eric Armitage (OL); Alex Anthony ®; Levi Steinhauer (DL); Spencer Moore (FB); Thomas Spo (LB)

On the Bubble:

Key Green Battles

Chris Best (RG): can he hold on to his right guard spot…or will Ben Heenan unseat him? Heenan started 12 games as a rookie. With a stable of younger OL waiting in the wings, does Best get released if Heenan replaces him?

Rob Bagg ®: after two injury plagued seasons…can he return to form as an effective possession receiver?

Chris Milo (K): Brody McKnight was clearly brought in to push the incumbent

Last Season

Up and Down

• Finished 3rd in the West

• Lost to Calgary in the West-semi, on a long TD with 20 seconds left

2013 Outlook and Prediction

Paper Punch??

Durant can be an effective QB, but he is inconsistent. He relies on his receivers to make outstanding plays on balls thrown up for grabs. Ball control offense is not his forte. Will Drew Willy see more playing time?

The offensive line looks solid. Some of the incumbents will be pushed in camp. Tackles were a problem at times last year, but players have been signed to push those positions. Sheets is an effective RB with plenty of upside

The receiver corps should be good, especially if Bagg stays healthy and Simon still has some gas in the tank (which I suspect he does).

Tons of change on defense. The secondary is almost completely overhauled and there will be new players at the defensive end spots. These areas needed to be addressed…but how much change is too much? Did they over-react after giving up that TD in the West semi? The LB corps is decent, particularly Brackenridge. Ferri and Williams have attitude issues…but coaching could be the key there. Personally, I’m not sold on their LB corps.

Three things:

1. How long will it take the new defensive players to gel?

2. Can Durant be more consistent and high-percentage?

3. Will the new acquisitions known to be locker room cancers…be cancerous?

Finally: they could make a push for second, but I dare say they’ll finish third in West again. Too much change on their defense…and BC / Calgary are better at QB.

It looks like they’re building a team to win THIS YEAR…but I don’t think they’re that good. It’s going to be a long rebuild if this doesn’t work.

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Calgary Stampeders 2013 Season Outlook:

The 2012 season was both a successful & trying season for Head Coach John Hufnagel & his team. Not only did the Stamps make it to the 100th Grey Cup game in Toronto but the team had to do it without Drew Tate for the majority of the season. Hufnagel not only won with backup qb Kevin Glenn at the helm but with Jon Cornish taking over the starting tailback position from veteran Joffrey Reynolds.

Multiple changes in personnel, injuries & success... a strange combination that produced a winner in Calgary. Hufnagel may have done his best work as a head coach under adversity in 2012. Lets take a look at the team a bit more closely.

Offensive Line: Dmitri Tsoumpas remains the anchor on the Stampeders offensive line. One of the best guards in the CFL, he brings leadership & stability to the offensive line. His play makes the others around him better.

At center Jon Gott is developing into a top CFL center & if he stays injury free he should become one of the best at that position in the league.

The Stamps have two major question marks on the offensive line going into this season. First, the health of former University of former Calgary Dinos, Indianapolis Colts Offensive Tackle & Super Bowl champion Dan Federkill who retired after the 2009 season because of concussion issues. Will he be able to return to form, stay healthy by avoiding more concussion issues & become a full time starter eventually?

The other question mark is OT Spencer Wilson. He battled thru back injuries at the end of last season. He is looking to bounce back in a big way. At best, if one or both of these guys can get into the starting lineup, it'll free up one & maybe 2 Americans to play other positions. At worst, they will add to the depth on the offensive line in 2013.

Stamps got a boost when their 2013 second round draft pick, Offensive Lineman Brett Jones signed with the team when he failed to qualify for medical school at the U of R.

Receivers: The Stamps have one of the most dominant & physical receiver in Nik Lewis. An extremely physical player with soft hands & a linebacker mentality who loves to dish out punishment blocking or crushing defenders when he lowers his shoulder on contact & tries to run them over.

Stamps may have two of the best young receivers in the CFL in Maurice Price & Joe West. Both have a knack of getting open & picking up yards after the catch, With a year of experience under their belts they may be ready to challenge for starting spots along with veteran receiver Marquay McDaniel.

Stamps suffered a blow when it was revealed that wide receiver Johnny Forzani would be lost for an undetermined amount of time after surgery on his right foot which was injured late last season.

Others looking to crack the lineup are two journeymen CFL receivers in Jabari Arthur & Chis Bauman along with former University of Calgary Dinos slotback Anthony Parker.

Running Back: At this position it's Jon Cornish & everybody else. He will be the starter & unless he is injured, Cornish will be one of the dominant running backs again in the CFL this season.

The battle for the backup position will be an interesting one between former Dino Matt Walter who played very well when he got the opportunity & the oft injured but talented & speed burner LaMarcus Coker.

Quarterbacks: John Hufnagel has named Drew Tate as the starter for 2013. But starting positions are fleeting things. Pro football is a success oriented business. Tate, coming off an injury plagued 2012 season still has a lot to prove if he is going to hold onto that coveted starting position this coming season. He has to stay healthy. The other is being able to consistently play well when he does start. This may be the most important season in Tate's career & may define him as a starting qb in the CFL.

Kevin Glenn came to the Stamps in 2012 after a disappointing 2011 season in Hamilton & seemed content to be Tate's backup & mentor helping him adjust to a starting role in 2012. However, a dislocated shoulder & later a broken right wrist allowed the cool & collected Glenn to take over as starting qb where guided his Stampeder teammates to the 100th Grey Cup game. Glenn, the old pro still covets the starting qb position this season but understands that for nowTate is the starter. Glenn knows he has to be ready if called upon to lead the team again in 2013.

Perhaps the most intriguing player on the entire Stampeder roster is second year qb Bo Levi Mitchell. Showing poise & confidence beyond his 22 years, when Mitchell did have to come in at the qb position he played very well. He should only improve & be even better this season.

Defensive Line: Anchored by Defensive End Charleston Hughes the DL is looking to improve over the 2012 season where they looked very good at points during the season & almost invisible other times. Injuries & inconsistent play slowed this unit down last season.

The loss of Canadian DT Brian Bulcke to Hamilton in free agency this past winter hurts but the Stamps went out & signed CFL veteran DT Etienne Legare in his place from the Eskimos which will help.

The Stamps are looking for a matching book end for Hughes & that may be former Blue Bomber, Rider & Ti Cat Defensive End Stevie Baggs. Stamps are hoping he can return to his form of 2009 when he was a force with the Riders. If he has overcome a nagging calf injury he may very well do that. If Baggs does return to form look for the Stampeders defensive line to be one of the team's strengths this coming season.

Ben D'Aguilar, the Stamps first round draft pick this spring is expected to get some playing time on the defensive line but as he is noted as being a Special Teams Demon, most of his playing time will come on that unit.

Linebackers: The linebacking corps will again be anchored by Mac Linebacker Juwan Simpson although he battled through injuries especially later in the season. Rookie Deron Mayo came in & played very well in his place in the Western Final so Simpson may be pushed. However, if Mayo makes the team, I expect him to start the season on the practice roster.

At the Sam Linebacker postion, the versatile Keon Raymond is expected to have another huge season for the team. Raymond is a CFL prototypical Sam Linebacker. Quick enough to cover the back out of the backfield or dropping into pass coverage & tough enough for run support. He can play corner & defensive back if needed & also return kicks & punts if needed.

At the Will Linebacker, the steady veteran Malik Jackson holds down the other spot.

Defensive Back: A veteran group that provided steady leadership to the Stampeder defense with players such as Quincy Butler, Fred Bennett, Brandon Smith & Eric Fraser. An interesting battle may be developing at free safety between Fraser & & second year player Keenan McDougall. Fraser signed a new deal in the off season but Keenan may be ready to push the veteran in training camp.

Defensive back Demetrice Morley is returning from injury where he missed the entire 2012 season so throwing him into the mix just makes this unit stronger.

Special Teams: Stamps have the best one two punch in the kicking department with punter Rob Maver & placekicker Rene Paredes. Both players were CFL All Stars & Paredes is coming off a season where he averaged 92% in the field goal department.

As far as returning punts & kickoffs, the Stamps have the dangerous Larry Taylor who is capable of returning a punt or kickoff all the way from any point on the field.

Prediction: The Stampeders have talent & depth at almost every position. They have a great head coach in John Hufnagel who is a stickler for detail & preparation as well as three veteran coordinators.

If Calgary can avoid the injury bug that plagued this team in 2012 they are more than capable of not only returning to the Grey Cup but winning it. Look for the Stamps & Lions to battle it out for supremacy in the CFL's West Division in 2013.

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